Picture frame with associated audio messages

ABSTRACT

A picture frame and accompanying audio message circuit is provided such that one or more desired audio messages stored in the audio message circuit associated with one or more display pictures can be played upon the touching of the pictures or the frame. When audio message playback is desired, a switch on the frame or under a protective cover for the picture is activated by touching. Under CPU control, digital information representing the desired audio message is retrieved from a memory device, which is subsequently converted to an analog signal and transmitted to a speaker which produces the desired audio message perceptible to a human. In other embodiments, multiple picture and multiple messages are provided such that the user can touch a particular picture, or the switch associated with that picture, and an audio message corresponding to the picture is then played through the speaker. In still other embodiments, a system is provided with a plurality of pictures mounted in the perimeter faces of a cube or other geometrical shape, each picture having associated with it a switch for activating a message or plurality of messages.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.08/121,955, filed Sep. 15, 1993 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,836, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 07/711,153, filed Jun. 6, 1991 nowa abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to pictures and audio messages and moreparticularly to a picture frame with an audio message circuit in whichone or more audio messages associated with displayed picture(s) areplayed upon touching the picture(s) or the frame.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known to display pictures such as photographs of family members ormomentous occasions or the like inside of a frame. The frame typicallyenhances the aesthetics of the displayed picture, provides protectionfor the picture and/or provides a suitable means for mounting ordisplaying the picture. Such ordinary frames, however, present a stillpicture only and do not have an audio message circuit as a part of theframe by which an audio message associated with the displayed picture isplayed upon touching the picture or the frame.

It is also known in the art to have greeting cards or the like such thatwhen the greeting card is opened, prerecorded tonal music is played.Such prior art devices, however, do not provide a frame for the displayof desired pictures, and further do not allow for an arbitrary audiomessage such as the voice of a user to be activated when desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of theprior art by providing a picture frame and accompanying audio messagecircuit such that one or more desired audio messages associated with oneor more displayed pictures can be played upon the touching of thepictures or the frame. The present invention is particularly suited forintegrated and low cost construction such that a picture frame withassociated audio message capabilities is provided for displayingmomentous or family photographs or for educational purposes.

When audio message playback is desired, a switch on the frame or under aprotective cover for the picture (called a “plate” herein) is activatedby touching. Under CPU control, digital information representing thedesired audio message is retrieved from a memory device, which issubsequently converted to an analog signal and transmitted to a speakerwhich produces the desired audio message perceptible to a human. Inother embodiments, multiple pictures and multiple messages are providedsuch that the user can touch a particular picture, or the switchassociated with that picture, and an audio message corresponding to thatpicture is then played through the speaker.

In still other embodiments, a system is provided such that an image iscaptured electronically through a camera or the like. The electronicinformation representing the picture, and associated electronicinformation representing the audio message, is then transmitted over asuitable transmission medium such that it is remotely received. On thereceiving end, a still picture is produced for insertion into thepicture frame, and the received audio message is input into a voicemessage circuit. With these embodiments, the picture frame and voicemessage circuit of the present invention can be produced remotely fromthe origin of the picture and the audio message. Such embodiments haveapplication, for example, for the remote delivery of a commemorativepicture and message such as to a sick relative located in a far offlocation. All of this is accomplished in the prevent invention with anintegrated and low cost construction, providing advantages not presentin the prior art devices.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide apicture frame with an audio message circuit in which one or more audiomessages associated with a displayed picture are played upon thetouching of the picture or the frame.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a picture framewith multiple pictures, with multiple audio messages associated witheach of the displayed pictures, such that a user can initiate playbackof an audio message associated with a particular picture by activating aswitch associated with that particular picture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a picture framethat can play an audio message with the audio message in the voice of adesired person.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pictureframe in which the audio message is programmable by the user.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pictureframe in which the audio messages are stored under CPU control such thatthe audio message playback can be initiated by touching switches on theframe or a switch associated with the picture itself.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide a system forproviding the picture to be inserted in the frame and the audio messageto be stored in the audio message circuit remotely from the point atwhich the picture and audio message are generated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an illustration of a single picture embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1B is an illustration of a multi-picture embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an embodiment of the audio message circuit of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of another embodiment of the audio message circuitof the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an embodiment of the remote transmit/receivecircuit of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is diagram illustrating a multi-picture embodiment of the presentinvention in which the frame is of a geometric shape such as a cube.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures, the preferred and alternate embodimentsof the present invention will now be described. Although the presentinvention will be described in terms of pictures or photographs, itshould be understood that any fixed object from which a visual image canbe perceived, such as sketches, drawings, lettering or the like, oractual objects in a suitable enclosure such as to be framed, also can beutilized with the present invention. Similarly, while the presentinvention will be described in terms of audio messages such as ordinaryhuman speech, it should be understood that any audio information, suchas music, animal or wildlife noises or the like also can be utilizedwith the present invention.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate two embodiments of the present invention.FIG. 1A illustrates picture 2, which can be any fixed image such as astill picture or portrait of a person, inside of frame 8. Picture 2 isaffixed to or contained in frame 8 in any suitable way, such as byinserting in grooves or slots (not explicitly shown) in the rear offrame 8 (such as in ordinary picture frames), or may be affixed by wayof adhesives or by mounting a retainer plate (not explicitly shown) withscrews or the like to frame 8 with picture 2 contained between theretainer plate and frame 8. Picture 2 is covered by plate 4, which canbe any transparent covering, either rigid or flexible, and in thepreferred embodiment is glass or plastic. Plate 4 is affixed to frame 8in any suitable way much as with picture 2 described above.

Attached to frame 8 is speaker 14, from which audio messages aretransmitted. The playing of audio messages is initiated by activation ofone or more switches 9, which can be located at suitable location(s)around the periphery of frame 8. Switches 9 can be located at otherlocations on frame 8, such as on the top or bottom of frame 8 (iflocated on the bottom of frame 8, switch 9 may have a spring offset sothat the weight of frame 8 itself does not activate the switch) or onthe rear of frame 8. What is important is that a user of the device havea mechanism to initiate playback of audio messages. As indicated bysensor switch 6, the audio message playback initiation also may beaccomplished by way of a sensor or switch attached to, or part of plate4. Sensor switch 6 can be any suitable mechanism, such as a capacitiveor membrane switch located under plate 4 or near the periphery of frame8 so as to be unnoticeable to the user. In such embodiments, audiomessage playback is initiated by the user directly touching plate 4,which activates sensor switch 6.

In certain embodiments, frame 8 also includes microphone 12, which canbe any suitable device for transducing incoming audio information (suchas a human voice) into electrical signals for subsequent processing andstorage (see discussion of FIG. 2 below). Microphone 12 provides easyuser programmability of the audio messages to be replayed, and inparticular programmability of the audio messages in the voice of theuser or some other desired person. In other embodiments, microphone 12is not provided, and the audio messages are provided by the manufactureror supplier of the unit, although even in these embodiments the audiomessage may be the voice of the user or some other desired person orthing.

In another embodiment, the audio message circuit contains multiplemessages associated with the displayed picture, with playback of themultiple messages initiated by multiple activations of the sensor orother switch (i.e., multiple message scrolling with multiple switchactivations, etc.).

With reference to FIG. 1B, another embodiment of the present inventionwill be described. FIG. 1B illustrates frame 22 containing multiplepictures 20. The embodiment of FIG. 1B also includes multiple audiomessages such that one or more messages correspond with each of thedisplayed pictures (in certain embodiments, multiple messages may bescrolled with multiple switch activations, as described above withreference to FIG. 1A). As discussed below, a mechanism is provided forthe user to initiate audio message playback of the particular message(s)associated with particular pictures. For example, one picture may be apicture of the user's mother, with the audio message associated withthat picture being the mother's voice, while another picture may be apicture of the user's father, with the audio message associated withthat picture being the father's voice. The user, such as a child, cantouch the picture of the mother (or a switch near the picture of themother) and hear a message in the mother's voice, and similarly with thepicture of the father.

More generally, pictures of a number of persons can be included in theembodiment of FIG. 1B, with specific audio messages associated with eachof the persons. In another specific embodiment, the pictures are ofselected animals, with the audio messages being information regardingthose animals, or wildlife sounds made by the animals themselves. Manyother combinations of pictures and audio messages can be utilized in thepresent invention; the choices are limited only by the imagination ofthe user.

In FIG. 1B, pictures 20 are covered by multiple plates 4A or singleplate 4B, as illustrated, which are similar to plate 4 of FIG. 1A.Pictures 20 and the plate(s) are affixed to frame 22 in any suitableway, much as was described with respect to picture 2, plate 4 and frame8 of FIG. 1A. Mounted on frame 22 is speaker 28 and, in certainembodiments, microphone 25. Attached to frame 22 are multiple switches26 associated with pictures 20. Audio message playback of a particularmessage associated with a particular picture 20 is initiated by touchingone of switches 26 associated with the particular picture. As discussedwith respect to FIG. 1A, in alternate embodiments the audio messageplayback is initiated by way of a sensor switch attached to the plate(s)covering pictures 20 (similar to plate 4 and sensor switch 6 of FIG.1A). In such embodiments, audio message playback of a particular messageassociated with a particular picture 20 is initiated by directlytouching the plate covering that particular picture 20, therebyactivating the sensor switch (again, similar to sensor switch 6 of FIG.1A).

Referring now to FIG. 2, an audio message circuit for use in anembodiment of the present invention will be described. Microphone 34receives audio information (such as a desired voice message of a user ora desired person or thing) and converts the audio information intoelectrical signals which are input to analog to digital converter(“ADC”) 38. The digital output of ADC 38 is input to CPU 30 forsubsequent processing and storage in memory 32. CPU 30 is programmed toprovide monitoring of switch inputs 56 and/or switch multiplexer 58,overall circuit coordination and control, and, in the preferredembodiment, compression and expansion of the stored audio message usingknown compression/expansion techniques. CPU 30 can be any suitablemicroprocessor or digital processing unit.

Memory 32 can be dynamic or static random access memory (“RAM”) (with orwithout separate battery back-up), read only memory (“ROM”),programmable read only memory, either UV or electrically erasable, ornon-erasable (“PROM”), or one time programmable memory (“OTP”) (acertain type of PROM that is field programmable but only one time),optical disks, memory cards, serial memory (such as bubble memory) orany other suitable device for storing digital information.

For audio message playback, under the control of CPU 30, digitalinformation representing the audio message is output from memory 32 todigital to analog converter (“DAC”) 40 over the bus connected to CPU 30and memory 32. The analog signal output of DAC 40 is connected toamplifier 35, the output of which is connected to speaker 36. Speaker 36converts the output of amplifier 35 into audio waves perceptible to ahuman listener. Depending on the desired sound quality, DAC 40 oramplifier 35 may include conventional filtering circuitry forelimination of circuit noise or the like. In alternative embodiments,the output of DAC 40 also is connected to buffer/amplifier 62 which isconnected to auxiliary output 64. By use of auxiliary output 64, thepresent invention may be utilized with a separate external speaker, orthe audio messages may be recorded on an external storage device such asa tape recorder (not shown) for purposes of archiving the voice messageor the like.

CPU 30 receives control information from control signal input 54 andswitch inputs 56. In certain embodiments, switch inputs 56 are receivedfrom switch multiplexer 58. Inputs to switch multiplexer 58 includeconnections from the audio message initiation switches, such as switches9 or sensor switch 6 of FIG. 1A or switches 26 of FIG. 1B. In responseto activation of switches 9 or 26, or sensor switch 6, signals on switchinputs 56 (either directly or through a multiplexer such as multiplexer58) cause CPU 30 to initiate audio message playback through speaker 36.

In certain embodiments, the audio message to be played back is alreadyin digital form, and thus may be input to CPU 30 by port 52. Port 52 maybe any suitable input-output device, serial or parallel, useful forinterfacing a CPU to an external digital device. Digital audioinformation received from port 52 is sent to CPU 30 for processing andstorage in memory 32, and for subsequent playback through DAC 40,amplifier 35 and speaker 36. Control of digital information through port52 may be made by way of control signals 54 in a conventional manner.

Electrical power for the components illustrated in FIG. 2 is provided bypower supply 46 over power terminals 44. In the preferred embodiment,power supply 46 is a battery. In other embodiments, power supply 46 isconnected to AC power supply 42, which in the preferred embodiment is anordinary household AC voltage line. In such embodiments, power supply 46includes circuitry to convert the AC voltage to a suitable DC voltage.In still other embodiments, power supply 46 includes a rechargeablebattery, and AC supply 42 supplies current for recharging the batterywithin power supply 46.

In still other embodiments, power supply 46 has connected to it acircuit for detection and indication of a low battery condition, such asby way of low battery circuit 48. Low battery circuit 48, by way ofcontrol line 50, can provide control information to CPU 30 for purposesof, for example, ensuring that the batteries are not completelydischarged. In certain embodiments, such as those including a RAMdevice, upon response from a control signal from low battery circuit 48,CPU 30 disables message playback to conserve the battery charge so as toensure that the information contained in the RAM is preserved. In otherembodiments an indication that the batteries need to be changed orcharged is provided to the user by an indicator such as an LED or light(not explicitly shown) in low battery circuit 48.

In the preferred embodiment, the circuit of FIG. 2 is provided withon-off switch 60 such that message playback can be disabled. Forexample, if the present invention must be transported in a box orsuitcase or the like, on-off switch 60 provides a convenient means forensuring that playback is not initiated by inadvertent touching ofswitches 9 or sensor switch 6, avoiding problems such as undesired audiomessage playback and battery discharge. With reference to FIGS. 1A and1B, on-off switch 60 can be located in an unobtrusive location such ason the rear of frame 8 or 22.

For illustrative purposes, FIG. 2 also shows a fractional view of theembodiment shown in FIG. 1A, with the dashed lines indicating generalcorrespondence between the circuit elements of FIG. 2 and the elementsshown on frame 8 of FIG. 1A. As indicated, microphone 34 of FIG. 2corresponds to microphone 12 of FIG. 1A; speaker 36 of FIG. 2corresponds to speaker 14 of FIG. 1A; and switch input 56 of FIG. 2(either directly or through multiplexer 58) corresponds to, for exampleswitches 9 of FIG. 1A (and also sensor switch 6 of FIG. 1A). Similarcorrespondence could be drawn between elements of FIG. 1B and FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 3, another embodiment of an audio message circuitfor use in the present invention will be discussed. Storage circuit 100contains digital information representing an audio message to be playedback, either in compressed or uncompressed form (if compressed, storagecircuit 100 also contains a suitable circuit for expansion of the audiomessage). Digital information is input to storage circuit 100 in thecourse of manufacturing storage circuit 100 (such as a mask layer PLA ora programmed read only memory device) or may be input by way of port 108(in the event storage circuit 100 includes, for example, a writablerandom access memory device or a programmable read only memory device),under control of control input 109. In other embodiments, storagecircuit 100 is externally programmed before it is inserted into thecircuit shown in FIG. 3. Power supply 110 over power terminals 112provides power to the circuit elements of FIG. 3 in a manner similar tothat of power supply 46 discussed in reference to FIG. 2. In otherembodiments, storage circuit 100 is a CPU and memory, such as CPU 30 andmemory 32 of FIG. 2.

Message playback from storage circuit 100 is initiated by switch 110.Switch 110 may be, for example, switches 9 or sensor switch 6 of FIG. 1Aor switches 26 of FIG. 1B. Under control of counting/clocking circuit102, digital information is received from storage circuit 100, inputinto DAC 104, with the resulting audio signals applied to amplifier 105,the output of which is connected to speaker 106, by which the audiomessage is played.

While the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 store the audiomessage in digital form, in other embodiments, the audio message isstored in analog form such as on a magnetic tape, phonographrecording(s) or the like.

In still other embodiments of the present invention, light activation ofaudio message playback is provided. Light sensor 10 of FIG. 1A and lightsensor 24 of FIG. 1B generate control signals in response to receivinglight that exceeds a threshold intensity. In response to this controlsignal, which can be input to CPU 30 by way of switch inputs 56 (forexample), audio message playback is initiated by CPU 30. In theseembodiments, a special message can be played in response to lightactivation (such as a “good morning” message) as opposed to a possiblydifferent message played in response to switch activation.

With reference to FIG. 4, a system and method for remotely transmittingpictures and audio messages for use in the present invention will now bedescribed. Camera 72 electronically captures a suitable image, such asan image of person 70. Analog information from camera 72 is input tovideo frame store 76. Video frame store 76 can be any of a number ofconventional devices for receiving the output of a video camera andproducing an electrical representation (in the preferred embodimentdigital) of a particular frame of the video image produced by the videocamera. Under control of CPU 80, digital information output from videoframe store 76, representing the desired picture or image information,is stored in memory 82. As with memory 32 of FIG. 2, memory 82 may beany suitable memory or digital storage device. In other embodiments, thedesired picture already exists, and in lieu of camera 72, an electricalrepresentation of the picture is produced by a conventional scanningdevice, the output of which is coupled to CPU 80.

The desired audio message is input to microphone 74, the analog outputof which is input to ADC 78. Under control of CPU 80, the digital outputof ADC 78 representing the desired audio message is stored in memory 82.

Under control of CPU 80, digital information representing the audiomessage and desired picture is retrieved from memory 82 and transmittedto transceiver 84A. Transceiver 84A transmits this digital informationover transmission link 85 where it is subsequently received bytransceiver 84B. Transceiver 84A and 84B and transmission link 85 may beany suitable combination of devices and media such that digitalinformation may be transmitted from one point to a remote location. Inthe preferred embodiment, transceivers 84A and 84B are conventionalmodems, and transmission medium 85 is an ordinary phoneline. Also in thepreferred embodiment, CPU 80 and CPU 86 perform coordinated errorchecking and correction in a conventional manner to ensure the integrityof the transmitted digital information. In other embodiments, high speeddigital and/or analog transmit and receive devices are used oversuitable media, such as dedicated phone lines, dedicated data lines,satellite links and the like.

The information received from transceiver 84B is stored in memory 88under control of CPU 86. Also under control of CPU 86, digitalinformation representing a desired picture or image (such as a pictureof person 70) is transmitted to video frame store 92. Video frame store92 may be any conventional device which produces an output suitable forinput to printer 93. Printer 93 produces a hard copy form of the pictureof the desired quality. Printer 93 can be a traditional photo generatingdevice, hard copy video printer or a high quality inkjet graphicsprinter or the like. The output of printer 93 is a hard copy picture,such as picture 94.

Picture 94 may be then utilized such as picture 2 in FIG. 1A or one ofpictures 20 of FIG. 1B. Under the control of CPU 86, digital informationrepresenting the audio message can be output from port 90 to a suitablestorage device. Such a storage device can be memory 32 (under control ofCPU 30) of FIG. 2, or it can be storage circuit 100 of FIG. 3. Audiomessage playback can then be initiated as discussed with respect toFIGS. 1A, 1B, FIGS. 2 and 3. For use with the embodiment of FIG. 1B,multiple pictures and multiple audio messages are transmitted andreceived using the circuit of FIG. 4.

CPU 80 and CPU 86 are illustrated in FIG. 4 electrically connected toother circuit elements by way of separate wires or buses. In otherembodiments CPU 80 and CPU 86 are electrically connected to othercircuit elements by way of a single bus similar to CPU 30 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, the present invention may be implemented in theform of a geometric shape, such as cube 200, with multiple faces 210that may hold one or more pictures, such as picture 220. Cube 200 may bemounted on pedestal 250, although in other embodiments pedestal 250 isnot provided. Under pedestal 250 is located microphone 230, which isoptimally provided close to the surface on which the cube rests. It hasbeen discovered that such microphone positioning can provide desirablerecording characteristics in such embodiments. Speaker 240 in theillustrated embodiment is located within the top face of cube 200,although in other embodiments speaker 240 may be built within pedestal250.

In the preferred implementation of this embodiment, multiple faces areprovided in the geometrically shaped frame, and multiple messages areincluded in the audio message circuit, with one or more messagesassociated with each picture/face of the geometric shape. Touchsensitive or sensor switches are located correspondingly with eachpicture/face of the geometric shape, so that audio message playback of amessage associated with a particular picture/face of the geometric shapemay be initiated by directly touching that picture or face. In otherembodiments, non-sensor switches (such as switches 26 of FIG. 1B) isused instead of sensor switches). As with other embodiments describedherein, multiple messages may be associated with a single picture/faceof the geometric shape, with playback of the multiple messages initiatedby multiple activations of the corresponding switch (i.e., multiplemessage scrolling with multiple switch activations, etc.).

In such embodiments, the control electronics and other elements of theaudio message circuit and related components such as the speaker,microphone and battery, etc., may be conveniently positioned within theinterior of the cube or other geometric shape.

In yet other embodiments, one face of the geometric shape (e.g., the topface) may contain a clock having an alarm function. In such embodiments,the alarm time may cause initiation of message playback, which may be amessage particularly corresponding to a particular picture or the clockalarm. Such a clock and alarm may be readily implemented in a variety ofways by one of skill in the art.

Electronics that may be used for alternate embodiments are illustratedin FIG. 6. Such embodiments utilize a Direct Analog Storage Technology(DAST) device (300) such as that manufactured by Information StorageDevices for recording, storing and subsequently playing the recordedmessages. The DAST can store up to 20 seconds worth of audio messagesthat can be played as one 20 second message or that can be divided intoa plurality of shorter messages. DASTs can also (not shown) be cascadedto provide up to one minute of record/play time. In other embodiments,different message lengths are utilized.

A plurality of switches 310 are input into digital multiplexingcircuitry 360 that converts the switch inputs into an address forselecting the start address of DAST 300. Each picture may have oneswitch associated with it. When the user wishes to hear a message for aparticular picture the user touches the picture (which may be a sensorswitch) or the other switch associated with the picture. Digitalmultiplexing circuitry 360 decodes the switch input and provides anaddress to DAST 300 and also provides the corresponding control signalsto DAST 300 to cause it to play a particular pre-recorded message. Theaudio is played through speaker 330. Power to DAST 300 is provided bybattery 350, or can alternately be provided by a low voltage DC powersupply.

When a user wishes to record a message play/record switch 320 is placedto the record position. The user then touches the picture or pictureswitch associated with a picture and speaks into microphone 340. Digitalmultiplexing circuitry 360 decodes the picture switch selected andprovides an address to DAST 300 and provides the control signalssignaling DAST 300 to record a message. When the message is complete,play/record switch 320 is returned to the play position. A plurality ofmessages associated with either a plurality of pictures or a pluralityof messages for one picture can be recorded utilizing the aboveprocedure.

While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred andalternative embodiment, it will be obvious to one skilled in the artthat many alternations and modifications may be made withoutsubstantially departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly,it is intended that all such alternations and modifications be includedin the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

Reference is made to copending application Ser. No. 08/121,955, U.S.Pat. No. 5,504,836, and its parent application, Ser. No. 07/711,153,filed Jun. 6, 1991, now abandoned. This application is acontinuation-in-part of the foregoing applications.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for receiving and displaying a plurality ofpictures to be inserted by a user and for playing audio messagesassociated with the plurality of pictures, comprising: a frame having aplurality of locations for displaying the pictures; a transparentcovering that covers the locations for displaying the pictures; an audiostorage circuit attached to the frame, wherein the audio storage circuitstores electrical representations of the audio messages associated withthe plurality of pictures; a microphone coupled to the audio storagecircuit for input of electrical representations of the audio messages; aplurality of touch sensitive switches coupled to the audio storagecircuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audiostorage circuit, wherein the switches are positioned under thetransparent covering in locations that correspond to particular picturesof the plurality of pictures and the transparent covering is adapted sothat the switches are activated by touching the transparent covering atlocations above the locations for displaying the pictures; a speakerconnected to the frame and coupled to the audio storage circuit forplaying the audio messages, wherein the audio message associated with aparticular picture is played through the speaker in response toactivation of a switch corresponding to the particular picture; and aclocking circuit coupled to the audio storage circuit, wherein audiomessages are played through the speaker in response to signals from theclocking circuit.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touchsensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent covering comprises aflexible plastic plate.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprisinga battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition isdetected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control switch for disablingmessage playback.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audiomessages are stored in analog form.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe frame is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality offaces, wherein one of the touch sensitive switches is positionedcorrespondingly to each of the faces, wherein a picture is associatedwith each of the plurality of faces, wherein a portion of thetransparent covering is located over each of the faces, wherein an audiomessage associated with a particular face is played back in response totouching of the transparent covering at a location above the particularface.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the audio storage circuit ispositioned in the interior portion of the frame, wherein the audiostorage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is of a geometric shape havingan interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the faces includesa clock having an alarm, wherein the alarm initiates playback of amessage corresponding to the alarm.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein at least one of the faces has a plurality of audio messagesassociated with the at least one face, wherein the plurality of audiomessages associated with the at least one face are scrolled in responseto multiple touchings of the at least one face.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analogstorage devices.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the framedisplays at least a first picture, wherein a plurality of audio messagesare associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audiomessages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response tomultiple touchings of the first picture.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the audio message are stored in digital form.
 14. An apparatusfor receiving and displaying one or more pictures that are to beinserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messagescorrespondingly associated with the one or more pictures, comprising: aframe having one or more locations for displaying the one or morepictures and having a speaker for playing of the one or more audiomessages; a transparent covering that covers the one or more locationsfor displaying the one or more pictures; one or more touch sensitiveswitches coupled to the frame and positioned under the transparentcovering in locations that correspond to the one or more pictures andthe transparent covering is adapted so that the one or more touchsensitive switches is activated by touching of the transparent coveringin a location above a corresponding one of the one or more pictures; amicrophone coupled to the frame for converting input audio messages intoelectrical representations; an audio storage circuit coupled to themicrophone for storing electrical representations of the audio messages,and a clocking/control circuit coupled to the audio storage circuit,wherein audio messages are played through the speaker in response tosignals from the clocking/control circuit; wherein an audio messageassociated with a particular one of the one or more displayed picturesis played through the speaker in response to touching of the transparentcovering at a location above the particular one of the one or moredisplayed pictures.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising abattery coupled to the voice storage circuit and a control circuit,wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit,audio message playback is disabled.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14,further comprising a control switch for disabling audio messageplayback.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a lightsensor coupled to the frame, wherein an audio message is played throughthe speaker in response to a signal from the light sensor.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein the audio messages are stored in analogform.
 19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the touch sensitiveswitches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 14, wherein the transparent covering comprises a flexible plasticplate.
 21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the audio storage circuitcomprises one or more analog storage devices.
 22. The apparatus of claim14, wherein the frame displays at least a first picture wherein aplurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture,wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the firstpicture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the firstpicture.
 23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the audio message arestored in digital form.
 24. A picture display apparatus adapted forreceiving and displaying one or more pictures to be inserted by a userand for playing one or more audio messages associated with the one ormore pictures, comprising: a frame adapted for displaying one or morepictures and having one or more locations for displaying the pictures; atransparent covering that covers the one or more locations fordisplaying the one or more pictures; an audio storage circuit attachedto the frame, wherein the audio storage circuit stores electricalrepresentations of the one or more audio messages associated with theone or more pictures; a microphone coupled to the audio storage circuitfor input of electrical representations of the one or more audiomessages; one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the frame andcoupled to the audio storage circuit for initiating the playing of audiomessages stored in the audio storage circuit, wherein the switches arepositioned under the transparent covering in locations that correspondto particular pictures of the plurality of pictures and the transparentcovering is adapted so that the switches are activated by touching thetransparent covering at locations above the locations for displaying thepictures; a speaker connected to the frame and coupled to the audiostorage circuit for playing the one or more audio messages, wherein theaudio message associated with a particular picture is played through thespeaker in response to activation of a switch corresponding to theparticular picture and a clocking circuit coupled to the audio storagecircuit, wherein audio messages are played through the speaker inresponse to signals from the clocking circuit.
 25. The apparatus ofclaim 24, wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive ormembrane switches.
 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein thetransparent covering comprises a flexible plastic plate.
 27. Theapparatus of claim 24, further comprising a battery and a controlcircuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the controlcircuit, message playback is disabled.
 28. The apparatus of claim 24,further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback. 29.The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the audio messages are stored inanalog form.
 30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the frame is of ageometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein oneof the touch sensitive switches is positioned correspondingly to each ofthe faces, wherein a picture is associated with each of the plurality offaces, wherein a portion of the transparent covering is located overeach of the faces, wherein an audio message associated with a particularface is played back in response to touching of the transparent coveringat a location above the particular face.
 31. The apparatus of claim 30,wherein the audio storage circuit is positioned in the interior portionof the frame, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or moreanalog storage devices.
 32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein at leastone of the faces has a plurality of audio messages associated with theat least one face, wherein the plurality of audio messages associatedwith the at least one face are scrolled in response to multipletouchings of the at least one face.
 33. A picture display apparatusadapted for displaying one or more pictures and for playing one or moreaudio messages associated with the one or more pictures, comprising: aframe adapted for displaying one or more pictures and having one or morelocations for displaying the pictures; a transparent covering thatcovers the one or more locations for displaying the one or morepictures; an audio storage circuit attached to the frame wherein theaudio storage circuit stores electrical representations of the one ormore audio messages associated with the one or more pictures; amicrophone coupled to the audio storage circuit for input of electricalrepresentations of the one or more audio messages; one or more touchsensitive switches coupled to the frame and coupled to the audio storagecircuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audiostorage circuit, wherein the switches are positioned under thetransparent covering in locations that correspond to particular picturesof the plurality of pictures and the transparent covering is adapted sothat the switches are activated by touching the transparent covering atlocations above the locations for displaying the pictures; and a speakerconnected to the frame and coupled to the audio storage circuit forplaying the one or more audio messages, wherein the audio messageassociated with a particular picture is played through the speaker inresponse to activation of a switch corresponding to the particularpicture; wherein the frame is of a geometric shape having an interiorand a plurality of faces, wherein one of the faces includes a clockhaving an alarm, wherein the alarm initiates playback of a messagecorresponding to the alarm.
 34. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein theaudio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices. 35.The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the frame displays at least a firstpicture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with thefirst picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated withthe first picture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of thefirst picture.
 36. A picture display apparatus adapted for anddisplaying at least one picture of a person and playing back at leastone audio message associated with the person, comprising: a frameadapted for holding and displaying the at least one picture and havingat least one location for displaying the at least one picture; atransparent covering that covers the at least one location fordisplaying the at least one picture; an audio storage circuit coupled tothe frame, wherein the audio storage circuit stores electricalrepresentations of the at least one audio message associated with theperson, wherein the electrical representations of the at least one audiomessage are input to the audio storage circuit via an input port; aclocking circuit coupled to the audio storage circuit, wherein audiomessages are played through a speaker in response to signals from theclocking circuit; at least one touch sensitive switch coupled to theaudio storage circuit for initiating the playing of audio messagesstored in the audio storage circuit; and a speaker coupled to the frameand coupled to the audio storage circuit for playing the at least oneaudio message, wherein the at least one audio message associated withthe person is played through the speaker in response to activation of aswitch corresponding to the at least one picture.
 37. The apparatus ofclaim 36, wherein the audio message comprises the voice of the person.38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one touch sensitiveswitch comprises a capacitive or membrane switch.
 39. The apparatus ofclaim 36, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein,if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, messageplayback is disabled.
 40. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprisinga control switch for disabling message playback.
 41. The apparatus ofclaim 36, wherein the audio messages are stored in analog or digitalform.
 42. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the audio storage circuitcomprises one or more analog storage devices.
 43. The apparatus of claim36, wherein a plurality of audio messages associated with the person arestored in the audio storage circuit, wherein the plurality of audiomessages associated with the person are scrolled in response to multipletouchings of the at least one touch sensitive switch.
 44. An apparatusfor receiving and displaying a plurality of pictures to be inserted by auser and for playing audio messages associated with the plurality ofpictures, comprising: a frame having a plurality of locations fordisplaying the pictures; an audio storage circuit, wherein the audiostorage circuit stores electrical representations of the audio messagesassociated with the plurality of pictures; a microphone coupled to theaudio storage circuit for input of electrical representations of theaudio messages; a plurality of touch sensitive switches coupled to theaudio storage circuit for initiating the playing of audio messagesstored in the audio storage circuit, wherein the switches are positionedin locations that correspond to particular pictures of the plurality ofpictures and are adapted so that the switches are activated by touchingthe frame at the locations for displaying the pictures; a speakercoupled to the audio storage circuit for playing the audio messages,wherein the audio message associated with a particular picture is playedthrough the speaker in response to activation of a touch sensitiveswitch corresponding to the particular picture; and a clocking circuitcoupled to the audio storage circuit, wherein audio messages are playedthrough the speaker in response to signals from the clocking circuit.45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the touch sensitive switchescomprise capacitive or membrane switches.
 46. The apparatus of claim 44,further comprising a transparent covering over the locations where thepictures may be positioned by a user.
 47. The apparatus of claim 44,further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a lowbattery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playbackis disabled.
 48. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising a controlswitch for disabling message playback.
 49. The apparatus of claim 44,wherein the audio messages are stored in analog form.
 50. The apparatusof claim 44, wherein the frame is of a geometric shape having aninterior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the touch sensitiveswitches is positioned correspondingly to each of the faces, wherein apicture is associated with each of the plurality of faces, wherein anaudio message associated with a particular face is played back inresponse to activation of the touch sensitive switch positionedcorrespondingly to the particular face.
 51. The apparatus of claim 50,wherein the audio storage circuit is positioned in the interior portionof the frame, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or moreanalog storage devices.
 52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein at leastone of the faces has a plurality of audio messages associated with theat least one face, wherein the plurality of audio messages associatedwith the at least one face are scrolled in response to multipletouchings of the at least one face.
 53. The apparatus of claim 44,wherein the frame is of a geometric shape having an interior and aplurality of faces, wherein one of the faces includes a clock having analarm, wherein the alarm initiates playback of a message correspondingto the alarm.
 54. The apparatus of claims 44, wherein the audio storagecircuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.
 55. The apparatusof claim 44, wherein the frame displays at least a first picture,wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the firstpicture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with thefirst picture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of thefirst picture.
 56. An apparatus for receiving and displaying one or morepictures that are to be inserted by a user and for playing one or moreaudio messages correspondingly associated with the one or more pictures,comprising: a frame having one or more locations for displaying the oneor more pictures and having a speaker for playing the one or more audiomessages; one or more touch sensitive switches positionedcorrespondingly to the one or more locations for displaying the one ormore pictures, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches areadapted so that the one or more touch sensitive switches are activatedby touching of the apparatus at the one or more locations for displayingthe one or more pictures; a microphone for converting input audiomessages into electrical representations; an audio storage circuitcoupled to the microphone for storing electrical representations of theaudio messages; and a clocking/control circuit coupled to the audiostorage circuit, wherein audio messages are played through the speakerin response to signals from the clocking/control circuit; wherein anaudio message associated with a particular one of the one or moredisplayed pictures is played through the speaker in response toactivation of one of the touch sensitive switches that is positionedcorrespondingly to the particular displayed picture.
 57. The apparatusof claim 56, further comprising a battery coupled to the voice storagecircuit and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition isdetected by the control circuit, audio message playback is disabled. 58.The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising a control switch fordisabling audio message playback.
 59. The apparatus of claim 56, furthercomprising a light sensor coupled to the frame, wherein an audio messageis played through the speaker in response to a signal from the lightsensor.
 60. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the audio messages arestored in analog form.
 61. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the audiomessage are stored in digital form.
 62. The apparatus of claim 56,wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membraneswitches.
 63. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising atransparent covering over the one or more locations where the picturesmay be positioned by a user.
 64. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein theaudio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices. 65.The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the frame displays at least a firstpicture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with thefirst picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated withthe first picture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of thefirst picture.
 66. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the audio messageare stored in digital form.
 67. A picture display apparatus adapted forreceiving and displaying one or more pictures to be inserted by a userand for playing one or more audio messages associated with the one ormore pictures, comprising: a frame adapted for displaying one or morepictures and having one or more locations for displaying the pictures;an audio storage circuit, wherein the audio storage circuit storeselectrical representations of the one or more audio messages associatedwith the one or more pictures; a microphone coupled to the audio storagecircuit for input of electrical representations of the one or more audiomessages; one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the audiostorage circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored inthe audio storage circuit, wherein the one or more touch sensitiveswitches are positioned in one or more locations that correspond toparticular pictures of the one or more pictures and are adapted so thatthe one or more touch sensitive switches are activated by touching theframe at the locations for displaying the one or more pictures; aspeaker coupled to the audio storage circuit for playing the one or moreaudio messages, wherein the audio message associated with a particularpicture is played through the speaker in response to activation of aswitch corresponding to the particular picture; and a clocking circuitcoupled to the audio storage circuit, wherein audio messages are playedthrough the speaker in response to signals from the clocking circuit.68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the touch sensitive switchescomprise capacitive or membrane switches.
 69. The apparatus of claim 67,further comprising a transparent covering over the one or more locationswhere the pictures may be positioned by a user.
 70. The apparatus ofclaim 67, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein,if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, messageplayback is disabled.
 71. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprisinga control switch for disabling message playback.
 72. The apparatus ofclaim 67, wherein the audio messages are stored in analog form.
 73. Theapparatus of claim 67, wherein the frame is of a geometric shape havingan interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the touch sensitiveswitches is positioned correspondingly to each of the faces, wherein apicture is associated with each of the plurality of faces, wherein aportion of the transparent covering is located over each of the faces,wherein an audio message associated with a particular face is playedback in response to touching of the transparent covering at a locationabove the particular face.
 74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein theaudio storage circuit is positioned in the interior portion of theframe, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analogstorage devices.
 75. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the audiostorage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.
 76. Theapparatus of claim 67, wherein the frame displays at least a firstpicture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with thefirst picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated withthe first picture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of thefirst picture.
 77. A picture display apparatus adapted for receiving anddisplaying one or more pictures to be inserted by a user and for playingone or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures,comprising: a frame adapted for displaying one or more pictures andhaving one or more locations for displaying the pictures; an audiostorage circuit, wherein the audio storage circuit stores electricalrepresentations of the one or more audio messages associated with theone or more pictures; a microphone coupled to the audio storage circuitfor input of electrical representations of the one or more audiomessages; one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the audiostorage circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored inthe audio storage circuit, wherein the one or more touch sensitiveswitches are positioned in one or more locations that correspond toparticular pictures of the one or more pictures and are adapted so thatthe one or more touch sensitive switches are activated by touching theframe at the locations for displaying the one or more pictures; and aspeaker coupled to the audio storage circuit for playing the one or moreaudio messages, wherein the audio message associated with a particularpicture is played through the speaker in response to activation of aswitch corresponding to the particular picture; wherein the frame is ofa geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, whereinone of the faces includes a clock having an alarm, wherein the alarminitiates playback of a message corresponding to the alarm.
 78. Apicture display apparatus adapted for receiving and displaying one ormore pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audiomessages associated with the one or more pictures, comprising: a frameadapted for displaying one or more pictures and having one or morelocations for displaying the pictures; an audio storage circuit, whereinthe audio storage circuit stores electrical representations of the oneor more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures; amicrophone coupled to the audio storage circuit for input of electricalrepresentations of the one or more audio messages; one or more touchsensitive switches coupled to the audio storage circuit for initiatingthe playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage circuit,wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches are positioned in oneor more locations that correspond to particular pictures of the one ormore pictures and are adapted so that the one or more touch sensitiveswitches are activated by touching the frame at the locations fordisplaying the one or more pictures; and a speaker coupled to the audiostorage circuit for playing the one or more audio messages, wherein theaudio message associated with a particular picture is played through thespeaker in response to activation of a switch corresponding to theparticular picture; wherein at least one of the faces has a plurality ofaudio messages associated with the at least one face, wherein theplurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face arescrolled in response to multiple touchings of the at least one face. 79.A picture display apparatus adapted for and displaying at least onepicture of a person and playing back at least one audio messageassociated with the person, comprising: a frame adapted to display theat least one picture and having at least one location for displaying theat least one picture; an audio storage circuit, wherein the audiostorage circuit stores electrical representations of the at least oneaudio messages associated with the person, wherein the electricalrepresentations of the at least one audio message are input to the audiostorage circuit via an input port; a clocking circuit coupled to theaudio storage circuit, wherein audio messages are played through aspeaker in response to signals from the clocking circuit; at least onetouch sensitive switch coupled to the audio storage circuit forinitiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storagecircuit; and a speaker coupled to the audio storage circuit for playingthe at least one audio message, wherein the at least one audio messageassociated with the person is played through the speaker in response toactivation of one of the at least one touch sensitive switchcorresponding to the particular picture while the picture of the personis viewable.
 80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the audio messagecomprises the voice of the person.
 81. The apparatus of claim 79,wherein the at least one touch sensitive switch comprises a capacitiveor membrane switch.
 82. The apparatus of claim 79, further comprising abattery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition isdetected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.
 83. Theapparatus of claim 79, further comprising a control switch for disablingmessage playback.
 84. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the audiomessages are stored in analog or digital form.
 85. The apparatus ofclaim 79, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analogstorage devices.
 86. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein a plurality ofaudio messages associated with the person are stored in the audiostorage circuit, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated withthe person are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the atleast one touch sensitive switch.